swatsick



ICE CHIP MAKING MACHINE March 31, 1964 Filed 001;. 6, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet l 37 FIG. I

IN V EN TOR.

MICHAEL J. swnyrslcK BY W K ATTORNEY March 31, 1964 M- J. SWATSICK3,126,719

ICE CHIP MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MOTORCOMPRESSOR CONDENSER EXPANSION VALVE INVENTOR.

3 MICHAEL J. SWATSICK ATTORNEY March 31, 1964 M. J. SWATSICK 3,126,719

ICE CHIP MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1961 uvvzzgyfox. MICHAEL J.SWATSICK ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,126,719 ICE CHIP MAKING MACHINEMichael J. Swatsick, 1900v Nebraska Ave., St. Louis 4, Mo. Filed Oct. 6,1961, Ser. No. 143,417 4 Claims. (Cl. 62-320) This invention relatesgenerally to refrigeration and, more particularly, to certain new anduseful improvements in an ice chip making machine.

It is an object of the persent invention to provide an ice chip makingmachine adapted for reliable production of ice chips which are unusuallyhard and clear; being discrete and well-defined, resistant to prematuremelting.

. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ice chipmaking machine incorporating adjustable novel means intimatelyassociated with an ice conveyor for compressing and effecting chippingof freezing masses presented thereto for the production of ice chips ofVarying size having the characteristics above recited.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ice chipmaking machine which has a marked simplicity of parts; which is stablein operation and of uniformly efficient performance; which does notrequire constant attendance during operation; which is resistant tobreakdown; which may be economically manufactured; and which may beproduced in a most compact size for commercial or domestic usage.

These and other detailed objects are obtained by the structuresillustrated in the accompanying drawings (three sheets) in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of an ice chip making machine constructed inaccordance with, and embodying the present invention, with the lowercabinet and upper housing portions being broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal transverse view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE2, but showing the motor and gear box unsectioned.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal transverse view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical transverse view taken on the line 55of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical transverse View taken on the line6--6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a front view of the top mounting plate and integral bushing.

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic presentation of the rerigeration system ofthe present invention.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustratethe preferred embodiment of the present invention, A generallydesignates an ice chip making machine which comprises an enclosed lowercabinet or ice receptacle 1 having insulated walls, as indicated 2;there being a hinged closure 3 in the front wall of said cabinet toprovide ready access to the interior thereof for ice removal. Disposedupon the upper surface of the top wall of cabinet 1 are spaced-apartsupports 4 for the base plate 5 of ice chip making apparatus B, whichmay be enclosed by housing 6, as of sheet metal.

As may best be seen in FIGURE 3, said ice chip making apparatus Bincorporates a freezing column 7 having a relatively thin-walled,metallic, open-ended cylinder 8 disposed upright upon base plate 5 andwithin which is coaxially disposed a vertically presented shaft 9carrying a helical auger blade or spiral 10 to define what may often betermed, a screw-type conveyor or auger. The cylinder 8 thus defines afreezing chamber c. Said shaft 9 at its lower end is reduced, as at 11,for journaling within a bearing block 12 supported on base plate 5within the formed of a transparent plastic material.

3,126,719 Patented Mar. 31., 1964 lower end of cylinder 8. The helicalblade 10 of shaft 9 is of such width that its outer end face is closelyadjacent, but spaced from, the inner surface of cylinder 8.

Surrounding the outer face of cylinder 8 in its lower portion is a riserblock 13 having a base flange 14 resting upon plate 5. Supportedlyseated on the upper end edge of riser block 13 is an insulating jacketor sleeve 15 encircling cylinder 8 and having upper and lower neckportions, as at 16, 17, respectively, with an intervening major bodyportion of increased diameter to define with cylinder 8 an annularspacing or compartment 18 for disposition therein of evaporator coolingcoils 19, spirally progressing about cylinder 8 in heat-transferrelationship thereto; there being an outer shell or liner 20 interposedbetween the inner face of jacket 15 and coils 19. By the diametralreduction of necks 16, 17 of jacket 15, cooling coils 19 are completelyencased to promote efiicient heat-transfer. The upper end edge of shaft9 is substantially aligned with the upper end of jacket 15 (see FIGURES3 and 5). At its upper end, shaft 9 is axially bored, as at 21, forreceiving the lower end of a drive shaft 22 extending verticallydownwardly from a gear box 23 which is presented overlyingly of theupper end of freezing column 7 and being secured upon a top mountingplate 24 disposed on the upper end edge of cylinder 8; there beingaligned bolt openings in mounting plate 24, riser block flange 14, andbase plate 5 for receiving elongated bolts 25 for rigidifying andintegrating freezing column 7. By reduction gears (not shown) locatedwithin gear box 23 drive shaft 22 is connected to a motor 26 locatedwithin a housing supported and depending from gear box 23.

Formed in the upper end of shaft 9 on diametrally opposite sides of bore21 are upwardly opening slots or recesses 28, 28 for receiving the endsof a transverse pin 29, carried in the lower end of drive shaft 22axially perpendicular thereto for effecting coupling engagement betweensaid drive shaft 22 and shaft 9 and for maintaining same in axiallyaligned relation. Mounting plate 24 is integrally formed with adepending central bushing portion 30 through which said drive shaft 22projects. The lower or under face of said bushing 30 terminates spacedlyabove the upper end edge of shaft 9 and is beveled or downwardlyinclined from the upper edge of a discharge opening 31 provided in thewall of cylinder 8, above the upper end of shaft 9; the lower edge ofsaid opening 31 being substanitally aligned with the upper end edge ofscrew shaft 9. Said under face of bushing 30 is also upwardly concave,as may best be seen in FIGURE 7.

Suitably fixed within discharge opening 31 is a downwardly and outwardlyinclined tubular chute or passageway 32 which may, if desired, forinspection purposes, be Said chute 32 communicates with the upper end ofa vertically presented ice delivery column 33, which may also be made oftransparent plastic material, and which connects at its lower end with acooperating cylindrical member 34 extending through aligned openings inbase plate 5 and the upper wall of cabinet 1 so that ice chips receivedwithin said column 33 will, through gravity, descend into cabinet 1 forstorage preparatory to usage.

The refrigerating system of the present invention comprises amotor-compressor 35 connected by a conduit 36 to a condenser 37 whichlatter is connected by a pipe 38 through an expansion valve to thelowermost of the cooling coils 19, presented diagrammatically in FIGURE8 as a series of reverse turns; there being a return conduit 4%) fromthe uppermost cooling coil 19 to motor-compressor 35. Thus, therefrigerant is compressed and delivered to condenser 37 for reduction togaseous form and in such state is delivered to the cooling coils 19,

traveling upwardly therethrough for drawing heat from within freezingchamber 0, so as to lower the temperature to substantially freezinglevel of liquids admitted within said chamber c. The spent refrigerantis returned through conduit 40, leading from the upper most cooling coil19 to motor-compressor 35 for recycling. By means of insulated jacket orsleeve 15 undesirable heat-transfer between cooling coils 19 and theambient atmosphere is prevented, so that markedly high efficiency ofcondensation of the liquid within cylinder 8 is obtained.

Provided adjacent the exterior of jacket 15 and elevated above baseplate 5 for gravity-flow purposes is a float-controlled water reservoir41 having an inlet passage 42 from a suitable source of water and beingprovided at its lower portion with an outlet pipe 43, which extendsthrough aligned openings in riser block 13 and cylinder 8 for deliveryof water to the lower end portion of freezing chamber c. Water sodelivered is forced upwardly by the helical blade as well as by theforce of the incoming water and subjected to the cooling action of coils19 so that as it ascends freezing chamber 0 it will be increasinglycondensed so that upon arrival at the upper portion of chamber 0 a wetfreezing mass will be presented.

It is to be recognized that the refrigerating coils may be replaced by asingle open jacket of the flooding type, since the means for effectingheat transfer can be in accordance with any well known devices and neednot be necessarily restricted to the particular device shown in thedrawing. Furthermore, as is well known, the expansion valve may bereplaced by a metering tube, if desired.

The uppermost portion of helical blade or spiral 10 terminates spacedlyfrom the upper end edge of shaft 9, as at 44, shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and5. Mounted upon the outer face of shaft 9 at its upper end, in specificrelation to the terminal portion of helical blade 10, as will bedescribed, is a plurality of peripherally spaced apart compression andcrushing blocks 45, which for purposes of illustration are shown asthree, but which may be of a greater number if desired. Also, as will bedescribed, the extent of spacing between adjacent blocks 45 will be amatter of choice, dependent upon size of the ice chips to be produced.Each of said blocks 45 is mounted as by an integral screw portion 48extending from its inner face for reception within a respective tappedopening 49, in shaft 9; which screw portion 48 is axially normal to themain axis of shaft 9. By means of said screw portions 48 the angularrelationship of the related block 45 to the vertical may be adjusted.Each block 45 has a thickness or depth substantially equal to the widthof helical blade 16 whereby they are spaced from, but in immediateadjacency to, the confronting inner face of cylinder 8. The clearancerequisite for adjustment of screw portion 48 is most limited, being inpractice about of an inch. One of the blocks 45, as indicated at 45 isdisposed spacedly from the end surface 44 of the helical blade 10 and ispresented within the normal extension of the path defined by said blade10 to thus provide an obstruction to any material traveling therealong.The other blocks 45 are located above the upper end portion of helicalblade 10, with the spacing therebetween varying directly with thedistance of the particular blade to the end surface 44 of helical blade10. In each configuration, block 45 comprises a pair of parallel sides50, 50', a top side 51 perpendicular to said parallel sides 50, 50', andlower or bottom sides 52, 52' which are downwardly and converginglyinclined. By means of their mountings, each block 45 may beindependently swung about the axis of the related screw 48 in desiredattitude for controlling the distance between any such block and thoseadjacent, and for presenting their inclined lower faces for iceguidance, for purposes presently appearing.

As the freezing mass, moving upwardly in chamber 0 along helical blade10, approaches the end of said blade 10, the said mass will be subjectedto a first compressive or squeezing action between said blade 10 and theadjacent portions of the overlying block 45 which thus coact with theconfronting portions of blade 10 to define a constricted spiralpassageway. Block 45', which effectively closes said passageway, servesto cause the theretofore spirally proceeding mass to be obstructed, andto be deflected along a path or paths substatnially axially parallel toshaft 9, as the mass is thus forced upwardly through the passages formedby adjacent blocks 45, as indicated at a and b, which thus divide thefreezing mass into two segments, in the present instance. But it isrecognized that the number of such segments is a function of the numberof blocks 45 utilized. Each segment of the mass is compressed betweenthe passage-defining blocks for further condensation as well as beingsimultaneously crushed or broken by such action into discrete particlesor chips. The convergingly inclined or tapered lower ends of the blocks45 serve as deflective surfaces for assisting the flow of the ice intothe passages.

The upwardly traveling hard-frozen chips will be directed against thebeveled under-face of bushing 30 and caused to be further compressedthereby as well as forced laterally outwardly through opening 31 intodischarge chute 32 for ultimate delivery to storage cabinet 1.

By adjustment of blocks 45, as indicated, the intervening spacing may becontrolled so that the passages a, 12, thereby defined, may be ofvarying width, whereby within such limits the fineness of the ice chipsmay be regulated, since the narrower the passageway the greater thecompressive and crushing action upon the frozen material, and the firmerthe chips produced. The unique coaction between the said blocks 45 andthe upper, adjacent portion of helical blade 10, becomes clearlyapparent since the interrelationship is critical for reducing the frozenmass into chips of the unexcelled character provided by the presentinvention. Ice chips produced by machine A maintain their superbqualities during storage, and do not tend to coalesce, but, rather,retain their relatively dry, discrete form.

As is apparent from the foregoing, machine A has a marked simplicity ofparts which are highly resistant to breakdown. The said machine operatesautomatically and does not require constant attendance and hence, hasproved most economical in operation. It is quite apparent thatwell-known means may be utilized for turning the machine off after thereceptacle has been filled to a certain point, such as, by athermocouple, or the like.

It is understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of theice chip making machine may be made and substituted for those hereinshown and described Without departing from the nature and principle ofthe present invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. An ice chip making machine comprising means defining a freezingchamber for ice formation, means defining a ice discharge compartmentcommunicating with said freezing chamber, means for introducing water tobe frozen into said freezing chamber, a shaft mounted in said freezingchamber, means for rotating said shaft, a helical auger blade providedon said shaft for conveying the mass of freezing water through saidchamber and into said ice discharge compartment, and a plurality of icecompressing and crushing members mounted in spacedapart relation on theperipheral face of said shaft, for rotation therewith, adjacent the saidice discharge compartment, each of said members being pivotally mounted,and means for maintaining said members in their individually selectedadjusted position.

2. An ice chip making machine as defined in claim 1 and furthercharacterized by said helical auger blade terminating spacedly from theupper end edge of said shaft, one of said ice compressing and crushingmembers being mounted for extension across the path of flow from the endof said blade, in flow-obstructing relationship thereto.

. 5 6 3. An ice chip making machine as defined in claim 2 a bottom wallhaving downwardly and inwardly convergand further characterized by theremaining ice coming portions.

pressing and crushing members being disposed above the References Citedin the file of this patent upper portion of said auger blade.

4. An ice chip making machine as defined in claim 1 5 UNITED STATESPATENTS and further characterized by each of said ice compressing2,825,209 Nelson Mar. 4, 1958 and crushing memberrs being of generalblock form hav- 2,877,632 Chaplik Mar. 17, 1959 ing a thicknessproximate the width of the auger blade, 2,962,877 Chaplik Dec. 6, 1960each such member further having parallel side walls, and 2,962,878Keller Dec. 6, 1960

1. AN ICE CHIP MAKING MACHINE COMPRISING MEANS DEFINING A FREEZINGCHAMBER FOR ICE FORMATION, MEANS DEFINING A ICE DISCHARGE COMPARTMENTCOMMUNICATING WITH SAID FREEZING CHAMBER, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING WATER TOBE FROZEN INTO SAID FREEZING CHAMBER, A SHAFT MOUNTED IN SAID FREEZINGCHAMBER, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT, A HELICAL AUGER BLADE PROVIDEDON SAID SHAFT FOR CONVEYING THE MASS OF FREEZING WATER THROUGH SAIDCHAMBER AND INTO SAID ICE DISCHARGE COMPARTMENT, AND A PLURALITY OF ICECOMPRESSING AND CRUSHING MEMBERS MOUNTED IN SPACEDAPART RELATION ON THEPERIPHERAL FACE OF SAID SHAFT, FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, ADJACENT THE SAIDICE DISCHARGE COMPART-